“But all this gangster bullshit is jeopardizing your career. No club or arena is going to risk people getting shot. You can forget about doing any tours or CD signings. And if you can’t make money, watch how fast Warner Bros. Records turns on you. I know from experience how venues and the music industry would like to black ball you.

You have the Gangster Disciples breathing down your neck because you’ve named-dropped Larry Hoover, the gang’s founder, in your music. Unlike the record and book publishing industries, these bad dudes don’t understand the concept of public domain. They see you getting rich forever by rapping about their leader, and they don’t like it. That’s why they’re on YouTube talking about how you need to go see them and cut a check.

It’s a shame you can’t enjoy life without spending part of your earnings on heavy security or risking your freedom by purchasing an arsenal. Remember, that’s what landed T.I. and Lil Wayne in prison. You don’t want that to happen to you. However, those are the consequences of rapping about being something you’re not.”

Really, the entire open letter is a must-read, and it’s hard to do anything other than co-sign what Luke is saying. I (obviously) have no experience dealing with such a volatile situation, but it seems like a simple equation. Considering that his actual credentials don’t exactly match what Rozay wants his resume to read and considering that a group like the Gangster Disciples are a much more real threat than 50 Cent, more knuckle-headed behavior (and, really, doing anything but getting to the bottom of who tried to turn his car into Swiss cheese is knuckle-headed) is going to leave us mourning another big name in Hip-Hop.

Cuz he’s lost in a character. Jeezy has givin us some “REAL” music about his life, his kids, his mother being a drug addict, and so on. All Rick Ross has to offer is formulaic urban fantasy bullshit. #Bawse!!

Obviously I don’t wish harm on anyone. Yet I’d have a lot more sympathy for Ross if he at least balanced his music out by describing some of the negative aspects of being involved in the drug game. The paranoia, the pain, the loss, the grief, jail etc… It’s one thing to perpetrate and pretend to be a drug dealer (it’s not my cup of tea but that’s ok with me). But to pretend like there is only an upside to the dope game, when you have never actually been a part of the dope game, is overwhelmingly irresponsible to me.

For all who make the comparisons, that is the biggest difference between Pac and Ross.

Luke said, all that I simply did not care to say, in the post about the shooting.

Basically, keep living a fictionalized life as real, and you are bound to eventually die by way of murder. Most see a line and do not cross it. Ross is either oblivious (there are artists who believe money makes them untouchable – they watch too many gangster movies), or was never wise enough to see the line.

Left turn here: why is nobody writing the GDs an open letter telling them to chill the fuck out?

How can anyone not see William’s shenanigans for what they are: an highly advanced, if not particularly sophisticated form of performance art?

I’m more upset that in 2013, our culture hasn’t advanced beyond gangster bullshit and this doofy assed mentality that a man deserves to die for what amounts to essentially extreme dedication to method acting a character for entertainment purposes. Judge me.

Agreed 100%, but my guess is that people assume the GD’s are beyond reasoning with. Plus there are a lot of individuals in the gang, and there is no way to account for the actions of everyone in it. Also, who in the establishment all of the sudden wants to get on the GD’s shit list, just to back up Ross?

On the flip Ross is one man, who is currently sitting in a provlidged situation right now. He’s workd famous, and rich beyond belief. The man should have no interest in dying and therefore should be receptive to advice from those who want to continue to see him be successful.

We can be pissed about the way things should be, but at the ens of the day you have to act based upon the way things are.

I just dealt with an artist who was shot at (numerous times) last week. History repeats itself. I go online and what do I see? Numerous… countless “fans” of the individual on the other side… perpetuating this exact lifestyle of guns and murder… believing in it.

It is some Jim Jones (not the rapper) type ish man. Makes me sick to my stomach. They do not see a character… an actor… they see someone who is “real” and whom they wish to be like. You would think people in their twenties would realize that real “gangsters” do not survive (not for long).

That is giving them too much credit… recognizing that fact. And it keeps money in the smart rappers pocket. It provides sold out shows. And P.S. social media does not help the situation.

you can tell who actually listens to Ross’s music and who doesn’t. How come GDs in Chicago ain’t say shit to Ross tho? Ross got to where he is by continuing the mafioso raps, he’s not gonna stop now. All the Ross haters want him to die….why? so they can play his music nonstop for a year, so that Ross becomes a legend overnight? so that MMG gets even more exposure? so that mainstream America criticizes hip hop again? so that the industry starts pushing more softer rappers/white rappers/non threatening rappers?

LOL. believe it or not Rick Ross is very popular, just not on the blogs. Look at every dead rapper that had widespread success when alive, all of them become grossly overrated, even one of my favorite rappers Biggie

I know how popular Ross is. That is not the issue. Has Ross dropped an album that was considered a classic? No. Does Ross’ music possess much substance? No. Is their already a widely known precedent for rappers getting murdered? Yes, which was not true for Big and Pac. They could not have known that things would escalate in such a way. But even if they had, they did because of who they really were, and what they really did. Ross dying for some fake shit he did just to get money? He will not be a legend.

did Big L have a classic? Did Big Pun make timeless music? Did Biggie have “substanse”? If Rick Ross were to die tomorrow, the media would push a favorable message of him and praise him as a great artist. People will go along with it because even his haters won’t disrespect the dead. It doesn’t matter how YOU feel, Rick Ross has made a big enough impact in the mainstream so that if he were to get murdered, his stock would multiple greatly and he’d be elevated to legend status.

To answer your questions: 1) In many people’s opinions, 2) Maybe not, but he was progressive and has a lot of significance for being a Latin rapper, and 3) Yes, most people would say so.

You also fail to consider this is the age of the internet. People didn’t speak poorly of the dead in the past because you had to do it to someone’s face. There’s no shortage of people willing to espouse unpopular opinions nowadays.

And it does matter how I feel, because I’m one of the people you’re saying who would go along with it, and I am not.

And as for Ross not getting blog love? I saw many websites who listed Rich Forever as one of the best albums of 2012, so yeah…

You cant become a legend if your death was caused by your preceived phoniness! God forbid it ever happens to Ross but I guarantee you his music will live on but his image is going to forever be used as a lesson to most rappers no to talk that shit if you aint living it!!

We need this type of discussion to figure out how to attack these issues at their roots. We are the elders of this culture now, like it or not, and it’s our job to recognize and address these problems head on.

Rap has the reputation of “reporting” or “journalism”… It’s so autobiographical in nature, yet people don’t seem to realize the same tendency for exaggeration or dramatization that they would give an author writing their memoir.

It’s important to make decisions based on what the world is, but we can’t stop hoping and WORKING for a better ideal.

dear gd’s why are u still repping a man that could care less about you hmm i wonder when people gone wake the hell up hoover dont care about he even dont want to be associated with that life no more i agree fat rick just needs to rap all this kingpen shit and just using and name dropping everybody needs to STOP

The comparison of a rapper “portraying a role” to an actor “portraying a role” is all fine and well, until you look at that equation in its simplest form.

When the cameras cut off, Pacino realizes he’s not Michael Corleone or Tony Montana. Rappers have a penchant for taking the persona they utilize in front of the camera and becoming that person 24/7.

The difference is, they stay in character, to the point where they begin to believe they are this character. At awards shows, they’re still this character. Via social media, they maintain this character. Once you begin to believe your own lies, you’re lost.

People say they want “real hip-hop” because decades of niggas being “fake” has run its course. It’s hard for you to tell people, “Hey, we all know he’s a fraud, but just let him be, he don’t mean no harm”.

It’s cool to wanna act out a role, as long as you realize that the script you living ain’t your real life. At the end of the day, “…niggas bleed”.

I’m from Chicago… brothas is on the net alot. Not even o computers–mobile, son. They on, they use Youtube like it’s a bulletin board. My guess is most of the GDs that are mad at Ross are younguns talkin’ tough. The older heads who knew Hoover/came up under Hoover’s reign ain’t thinkin about Rick Ross. They know he’s a clown rapper and they don’t take this personal cuz Ross ain’t made on no level.

Just as Ross lives a lie, alotta younguns in Chicago–GD’s homebase–live their own lies. They’re fake affiliates and franchises and kids claiming gang life as if it’s anything more than a path to sure death/prison…

What’s interesting is this is the most legit bit of drama in Ross’ life beyond losing weight. Let’s see how Mr. Tough Guy MMG Don KingPin handles it.

I’m from Chicago… brothas is on the net alot. Not even o computers–mobile, son. They on, they use Youtube like it’s a bulletin board. My guess is most of the GDs that are mad at Ross are younguns talkin’ tough. The older heads who knew Hoover/came up under Hoover’s reign ain’t thinkin about Rick Ross. They know he’s a clown rapper and they don’t take this personal cuz Ross ain’t made on no level.

Just as Ross lives a lie, alotta younguns in Chicago–GD’s homebase–live their own lies. They’re fake affiliates and franchises and kids claiming gang life as if it’s anything more than a path to sure death/prison…

What’s interesting is this is the most legit bit of drama in Ross’ life beyond losing weight. Let’s see how Mr. Tough Guy MMG Don KingPin handles it.

Tyrese was doing an interview and something interesting. He said alot of rappers pray to God in private to protect them from what they do in public. I think of you listen to Ross’s music, it makes perfect sense. He knows that what he says and does puts his life in danger. But he does it to sell records, then prays at night (and through music) that he’ll survive.

I feel as if a lot you have no sort of ties to the street and that’s perfectly fine. People are scared of the violence because they don’t understand it. There has been a lot of attempts to say rap just isn’t about black people but in a sense it is, it has and always will be. It’s about the celebration and journey of people who come from bad situations and find their way with anabundance of money. Will they suceed? Will they crash and burn? Rap goes hand in hand with the triumphs and shortcomings of black people…either you get it or you don’t in this case

No stanning on 50 here but this goes to show that there’s a stark difference between coming from that life and fantasizing about it as though it were real. Case in point this interview Whoo Kid recently talking about all the times the whole G-Unit mob would get into shootouts while on tour. The funny thing is that those incidences barely made the news compared to Ross’ recent incident.

How do any of us know the truth? We hear people say what they are, then we hear others say that their not that of which they claim. Who knows for sure about anyone’s past, unless you are working for them “BOYS” and investigating. I know everything that Ross, hell 90% of these artist say is not true but does that mean that none of it is or they are less qualified to speak on it if they were not directly involved, but witnessed it? It seems that a lot of you believe this man speaks of a fruadulant past, because he lied about being a CO. I’ve lied as well shit, because sometimes you get put in a position to where you have work in certain positions of the workforce to be able to control your organization from within, not saying this is true in Ross case but it happens. Biggie’s upbringing was more hardcore living in which HE sold drugs and commited robberies in which he sometimes rapped about ,but on the other hand Pac didn’t sell drugs or commit these robberies but rapped about what he seen and witness, but yet in still we believe Pac as the more gangsta or thuggish individual and MC. I know Ross, somewhat, and I’d be a lie if I sat here and told yall he was that big kingpin, but I would also be misinforming you’ll if I told you that it all is un true as well!

How do any of us know the truth?
We hear people say what they are,
then we hear others say that their
not that of which they claim. Who
knows for sure about anyone’s
past, unless you are working for
them “

Rick Ross should just fall back resolve these issues he does’nt realize his actions put others in jeapordy( the female traveling with him) he’s no gangster this we all know if your about that life handle yourself accordingly.

@theslamatics… Where are you from,how old are you,and did you jus start listenin to hip hop??? Do you know what Uncle Luke is to hip hop?? Obviously not!! So let me break it down and you since you seem to have no hip hop knowledge of the history. Luke was the first rapper to be sensored for his lyrics. He took his fight for the right to say what he wanted all the way to the Florida Supreme court at a time when they were trying to stop rap music all together. He showed rappers how to fight and showed you dont need a major label to sell records. Hes one of the builders patna!! As a builder or leader of a movement such as hip hop when he sees how what he helped create is being torn down h

He has every right to speak up and out about j cats who seem to not be critical thinkers. And its obvious Rick Ross looks up to Luke or he wouldnt mention his name as much as he does in Songs. Its called MENTORSHIP!!! Thats whats wrong wit the average youngstas, when a grown ass Man with 20 or 30 years on you who knows more tries to give you some jewels so you dont have to go through what we did,instead you miss the whole message cuz yo head is so far up yo ass you cant find the light. Step ya game up patna!!! Learn yo history of hip hop before you make comments makin you look stupid as fuck!!! TOWN BIZNESS IN FULL EFFECT!!